“Yamanaka-san, you are needed immediately. We’ve got ANBU in from a mission.”

Without a word, Ino rose from her chair and followed the orderly through the maze of sterile corridors. “Room?” she asked.

“163. Patient is unconscious. Multiple wounds. All non-fatal.”

“And the other squad members?”

“All operatives have been stabilized and assigned medics.” The man handed her a folder and bowed. “The squad captain requests that operatives not be released until they are healed and the mission report has been filed.” Ino nodded and went into the room, file in hand.

He was like every other ANBU she’d seen; masked, uniformed, average height, deceptively average build, a lean frame, knotty muscles, innumerable scars. His hair was lank and colorless from a want of washing and long from a want of scissors; most of it had been drawn into a small ponytail at the nape of his neck. She guessed it might have been brown at some point. His wiry limbs were sprawled this way and that, twisted and contorted, hanging off the table in disarray.

Ino pulled his legs back onto the table and placed his arms by his sides, smoothing the few stray hairs that escaped the ponytail and wisped around his concealed face. She wrapped one strand around her finger, twirling it absent-mindedly as she studied his mask. It was some sort of animal; a bear, or a dog, or a weasel maybe. Dogs were common; it was probably that. She ran a practiced hand under his jaw, felt for a pulse that she already knew was there, moved further down to examine his neck and shoulders. She shook her head in disbelief, detangling her hand from his hair and bringing it down to join the other on his shoulders. He’s unconscious, and he’s still tensed up. She sent a small wave of chakra to relax the muscles there, working carefully, not wanting to wake him. He needed the rest.

Soon, the tenseness subsided and the shoulders and arms fell limp. He sighed happily in his sleep. She smiled. Her fingers ran down his arms and traced lightly over the faded spiral tattoo. It looks old. He’s been at this for a while. She moved her hands to his torso, gently prodding, searching for discomfort or stiffness. He moaned as she passed over his ribs, reaching for his face with one hand, knocking his mask slightly askew. Ino reached out and gently replaced it before letting go of him and returning to her medical charts.

ANBU operatives will remain masked and anonymous at all times and will not be released from medical care until mission report has been cleared and filed. Medics are ordered to follow ANBU confidentiality guidelines. Any and all classified information will be discussed solely with the squad commander, ANBU commander, and/or Hokage. Failure to follow these orders will result in…

“…detainment and questioning for the endangerment of Konoha and the identities of its special ops,” she whispered. She flipped through the patient’s history, noting how slim and sketchy the details were. Which means this guy is engaging in classified, high profile missions, too sensitive to even put together a proper medical record. Or he’s just that good. She turned to his current chart. Lots of external wounds this time around. Mostly projectile. Probably ambushed on the way back from wherever he was. “Looks like you got caught this time around,” she said quietly.

Ino jumped when a hoarse chuckle came from the examining table. The man turned his head to look at her. “That’s one way to put it,” he rasped. “Although I did pretty well, considering that melee fighting is not exactly my area of expertise.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to tell me that,” she gasped, willing her heartbeat back to a normal pace.

He shrugged, wincing at the effort. “Even black ops have to defend what little dignity we have left.”

She cleared her throat and smoothed her hair nervously. “You are operative 3984?”

“Yes.”

She gave him a slight bow. “I am Yamanaka Ino.”

“I know.”

She straightened up in surprise, but his masked face was inscrutiable. She looked down at his record. “I’m aware that your mission is classified and you can’t divulge particulars, but could I have the ANBU approved version of your injuries?”

The operative nodded and stood up slowly, leaving a hand on the table to steady himself. “Kunai,” he rasped, motioning with his hands, “here, here, here and…” he paused, twisting painfully to examine his body. “And here,” he pointed to a spot on his side. “Several knocks to the head, another to the knee. Ribs hit,” he continued, touching the spot tenderly, “and probably broken by the feel of them. Stab wound to the leg. Didn’t see that one coming, but it was probably another kunai. Back practically split open by a katana. Shuriken all fucking over the place…” he stopped and looked at Ino. “Forgive me, Yamanaka-san,” he said quietly. “Long missions have made my manners slip. I should not have used profanity in your presence.”

She smiled, completely charmed, and waved his apology away with a small hand. “Let me see those ribs of yours.”

He nodded and began to slip off what was left of his undershirt, but he suddenly halted, hissing in pain. “My back…”

Patient cannot raise his arms above shoulder level. He wasn’t kidding about the katana. Ino drew a kunai from her pouch and walked over to the man, placing the edge of the blade against the collar of the offending garment. “I hope you own more than one of these,” she said.

He nodded as she sliced through the tattered fabric and let the shreds fall to the floor. “ANBU does keep its members well supplied with undershirts.”

“That’s a good thing,” she said, running her hand over his side. She felt him take a sharp breath when she passed over his ribs. “I need you to hold still,” she said.

“I am holding still,” he grunted, flinching slightly as she prodded gently at his bruise.

Ino grinned a little at his discomfort. “I thought they trained you guys to tolerate pain,” she quipped, sending a exploratory pulse of chakra to his ribs. She discovered several fractures, but nothing to serious. “This wouldn’t hurt so much if you had been healed sooner, you know.” He shot her a withering glare behind his mask. She ignored it and focused on fixing his side, drawing the ribs back slowly, not wanting to jar her patient or cause him any more pain than he was already experiencing.

The operative shifted a little as she worked and glanced down at her. “This is taking a little longer than I expected.”

She halted her ministrations and gave him a fierce look. “Are you a medic?”

“No…”

“Then shut up.”

He chuckled and complied, standing very still and staring a point high up on the wall until she had finished knitting his bones back together.

She stood and thumped him on the side to test her handiwork, pleased when he didn’t flinch. “Your ribs are taken care of. I’m going to skip over the less serious injuries for now so I’ll have enough chakra for that gash on your back, but I still want to give your front a once-over for anything that needs my immediate attention. Are you able to stand a little while longer?”

He nodded. “Sure.” He braced his arms against the table and shifted his feet slightly to make himself more comfortable. Ino’s hands hovered over him as she did a head to toe check, pausing occasionally to heal a cut that was too deep for her liking, or to ease a strained muscle.

She could feel him watch her as she worked.

“All right, lie down on your stomach. I want to see this katana wound you’ve been bragging about.”

He chuckled and lowered himself gingerly onto the examining table, pillowing his head in his forearms. He raised it again and give Ino an inquisitive glance when she didn’t start right away. She was staring at his back. “What do you think?” he asked.

She blinked and then hurriedly began healing. “Looks like someone tried to cauterize it on the run.”

He nodded. “Actually used the same sword that did this to me in the first place. I got one of my team to heat the blade over a fire.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, well, it’s better than bleeding to death.” An involuntary sigh escaped his lips as she finished healing the gash and sent a final soothing pulse through his back.

“Why don’t you guys take medics on your missions? Flip over please.”

He did as he was told. “We do sometimes.”

Ino went to work on his lesser injuries, closing the wounds and smoothing the skin so there would be no scarring. “But you weren’t expecting a confrontation on this assignment.”

He grunted noncommittally, and Ino didn’t pry any further. Her fingers went to his throat, looking for the cause of the rasp in his voice. He gently pulled her hand away and shook his head.

“Voice distortion jutsu. My throat is fine.”

Ino blushed, realizing her silly mistake. “Of course. I’m sorry.” She set her notes to one side and took a deep breath. “Right. Pants off.”

“I’m sorry?” He sounded startled.

She gestured at the lower half of his body. “You were stabbed in the thigh and you’ve got a hurt knee. I need for you to remove your pants in order to heal those injuries.”

“Oh,” he said, scratching his head. “Right.” He stood up slowly and began to unbutton the waistband.

Ino felt uncomfortable watching him, so she frowned and turned away.

He stopped altogether and looked at her curiously.

“Does this make you nervous?” he asked.

“Of course not,” she said quickly, bu she still wouldn’t turn to face him.

He stood there for a moment more, watching her tense posture with interest.

“You’re taking too long,” she snapped.

The pants fell to the floor with a quiet rustle.

“They’re off.”

Ino spun around, praying that her face was as red as she thought it was. Wordlessly, she motioned for him to lie down on the table again, and he obeyed without any further comment.

He lay on the table, still as a corpse.

She couldn’t bring herself to touch his thigh, so she began with his feet instead, oblivious to way his hands clenched the sides of the table as she worked her way up his legs. She was so wrapped up in her own embarrassment that she didn’t notice his sharp intake of breath as she touched the kunai wound with her fingertips.

He didn’t release his hold on the table until she finished and moved away. He sat up and turned his back to her, rubbing his neck and exhaling heavily, listening to the click of her heels as she crossed the room. Then he shook his head a few times, stared at the ceiling and whistled. Ino walked over to the sink to wash her hands and secretively splashed some water on her face and neck, trying to cool off. She noticed that the whistling had stopped, so she turned, dabbing at her neckline with a paper towel. He was lying on the table with his hands behind his head, watching her.

“You are a very beautiful woman, Yamanaka-san,” he said.

Ino blushed. “Do you pick up a lot of medics with that line?”

“I’m rarely in the hospital, so I wouldn’t know. It works well in bars.” He rolled onto his side. “But you are beautiful.”

Ino tucked her hair behind her ear and stared at the floor. Then she picked up her clipboard and began to write medical observations, odd details, anything to keep her occupied and to stall the conversation that made her so nervous.

He settled back on the examination table and watched her fill out his chart. The silence in the room was palpable and the scratch of her pen was deafening. He fidgeted impatiently as she continued to write, wanting her to pay attention to him again.

“Your squad was lucky to be in such good shape when they came in,” she said suddenly, still not looking at him. “ANBU usually has at least 2 fatalities per mission.”

He shrugged, eyeing her. “I was fortunate to be paired with several talented individuals.”

A indifferent “hm” was her only answer. He shifted again and rubbed his neck in aggravation.

“Treated many operatives over the years?”

“Quite a few,” she replied.

“I can tell. You have a nice touch.”

She glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

“Yes, very soothing and methodical.” He saw a smile tug at the corner of her lips, so he went in for the kill. “Like the technique you used when worked your way up to that stab wound on my thigh. Saving the best for last?”

“I didn’t—!” she spluttered and then she realized he was laughing. “You ass!” she yelled, but she was smiling again, and her embarrassment had mostly vanished.

“I don’t like it when attractive women ignore me.” He leaned closer to her. “You look flustered, Ino. Maybe you did enjoy it a little?”

She rolled her eyes and pushed him away from her, grinning. “Maybe a little.”

A knotted hand snaked out and caught her wrist, tugging her back towards him.

“I think it was more than a little, Ino.”

She blushed and disentangled herself from his loose grip. “If you had a senbon in your mouth, I’d swear you were that smooth-talking assassin.”

She could see his shoulders shake with silent laughter. “You mean Genma. I’m well aware of his reputation.”

“If you don’t watch it, you’ll have one just like it,” she said, crossing her arms.

“Is it that bad?”

“Depends on who you ask.”

“What if I asked you?”

She smiled. “It’s been so long since I saw him last, I honestly couldn’t tell you.”

“But you think I’m like him?”

“Well, you did wait until I had your pants off to start sweet-talking me.”

He laughed out loud at that and encircled her waist with a strong arm. “Next time I come to this hospital, I’ll refuse to be treated by anyone except you.”

She smiled and didn't resist the embrace. “And I’ll make sure to be off duty whenever you come in.”

“What if I promise to drop my pants for you?” he whispered suggestively. Ino laughed and, feeling bold, placed her hand on his. She was pleased when he returned her gesture, lacing his fingers with hers.

“I like you, ANBU. It’s too bad were sitting in a hospital, or I might have called this a date.” She grinned mischievously. “I might have even given you a kiss if that mask wasn’t in the way.’

She could see his eyes twinkle behind his mask. “Bold as ever, Ino.”

Suddenly, he released his hold on her hand and gave her a gentle push towards the other side of the room.

An ANBU captain appeared in the doorway moments later. “Operative,” he said, “Mission cleared. You are free to go.”

“Sir.” He saluted. His superior walked down the hall to the other members of the team.

Ino stayed on the other side of the room with her back to her patient. She heard him pull his uniform on slowly, taking time to refasten his pants and pick the last shreds of his undershirt off the floor. He crossed the room with quick strides, put the fabric in the trashcan, and shut the door with a click. Then he was behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

“Finally,” he whispered, running a hand along the smooth line of her neck.

Ino smiled as his fingers traced patterns on her skin. “Waiting for him to come by before you made a move?” she asked.

“Can you blame me?” She tried to spin around, but strong hands held her in place. “I’m still on duty, Ino,” he whispered in his ear. “Can’t afford to let you see my face.”

“Are you planning to blindfold me?”

She heard him slide the mask to the side of his head and felt his lips brush against her cheek. “No,” he said, “I trust you to keep your eyes closed.” He planted soft kisses along her jaw line, halting at the corner of her mouth. Ino turned, trying to capture his lips with hers, but he was too quick for her, moving to kiss the tip of her nose and her closed eyelids. He shifted again, and she could hear him chuckle as he grazed her ear with his tongue.

Ino turned her head to follow, but he stopped her once again. “Stop teasing me,” she huffed. He laughed and ran a finger over her bottom lip. She pressed her lips to it, frantic to kiss something, anything, that was his. The hand pulled away and went back to her shoulder. She wriggled in exasperation. “Give me a real kiss!” she growled.

He wrapped his wiry arms around her waist and pulled her close to him, nuzzling and kissing her neck. She could feel the vibrations in his chest as he spoke. “Not this time, Ino. Later, when you won’t have to keep your eyes closed.” She leaned against him and he held her, his hands running softly over her abdomen, never going too high or too low.

“Keeping your hands to yourself?” she asked.

He sighed. “You have no idea how difficult it is.”

Ino laid her hands on top of his. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not…taking advantage of the situation.”

His hands paused in their movements and, instead, his arms wrapped around her more tightly. “It is our first date, after all.”

She smiled with her eyes closed. “Does this mean you plan on taking me out again?”

He kissed her neck gently. “Can’t promise that I won’t die on my next mission, but if I do get back in one piece, I’ll come looking for you.”

She kept her eyes shut and pressed her cheek against his. “Really?”

He stroked her hair with one hand. “Yes.”

“Well then, I guess I’ll wait around for a while.”

He kissed her chastely on the forehead. “I’m counting on it.” She felt him withdraw his arms, heard him put his mask back in place and walk out of the room. His footsteps paused in the doorway. “Ino.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. He turned slightly and readjusted his mask. “See you around.” She laughed as he disappeared beyond the doorframe.

A/N: Wow. Sexy. Who do you guys think it is?

Right. So far we've got...Kakashi, Shikamaru, Neji, Genma, and Kiba. There's a poll on my profile page if you'd like to go and vote for the man of your choice.

I have a certain person in mind for our mystery man, but if you guys are really convincing, I might change my plans for the next chapter(s). That was a shameless plug for reviews, but it's ok! You guys still love me!

Right?